One would think that as we have progressed through
time - making new scientific discoveries and solving problems by creating
more advanced systems and infrastructures with new technology - the general
well-being and condition of our global society would also have improved.
Yet there are many people in the world still suffering from poverty and a
lack of basic nutrition and health care. The world today is a place of increasing
need and greater sorrow. Many people are unable to regularly provide for
their basic needs during normal times and thus, to a greater extent, must
depend on outside help in times of crises – whether natural or manmade.
Today, within minutes of seismic activity half way around the world our technology
can inform us about the magnitude of strength, specific location and the
level of devastation we will find. Our early warning systems allow us to
be better informed and respond at a faster pace (rate) than ever before.
The question that must be asked by Christian relief and development organizations
then becomes: How and when to respond?
How and when to respond?
In times of crisis, the natural desire of all Christians is to help those
who are suffering and in need. Many feel that ANY aid given is better than
nothing and will be appreciated by those in the midst of the crisis. This
belief however, is a fallacy. Sometimes NO response is better than an ill-timed,
inappropriate outpouring of relief aid. In times of crisis – either manmade
or natural disasters – even the most sophisticated systems are often in chaos
and can be overwhelmed with all of the immediate demands being placed on
them. Relief flowing in from the outside that is not coordinated with the
people working in the field and well planned in delivery can be detrimental,
not helpful. The role of a U.S.-based Christian relief and development agency
is to work with partners in the field to identify the needs and then work
with those partners to supply those expressed needs. In addition, the provision
of relief and selection of field partners should be with a long-term development
goal in mind – one that addresses the total health needs of the people. As
MAP International defines total health it is “the capacity of individuals,
families and communities to work together to transform the conditions that
promote, in a sustainable way, their physical, emotional, economic, social,
environmental, and spiritual well-being.” Total health cannot be achieved
overnight with a few shipments of relief supplies.
Assessment by those working in the field will focus not only on what is needed
to supply immediate physical needs, but will also take into consideration
the cultural context of the people being served. An example of inappropriate
relief sent without considering the local context is women’s shorts sent
to India after flooding – an area where the women wear traditional saris.
An experienced relief and development organization will know the basic needs
that are universal for various kinds of disasters – no matter where they
occur. For example, the types of medical supplies that will be needed to
treat victims of earthquakes or trauma due to war will not vary even based
on local context. By working together with partners in the field, a U.S.-based
organization can network to mobilize resources needed from both corporate
and cash donors. An experienced relief and development agency relies on collaboration
and networking to provide the best and most appropriate response in times
of crisis. If there are no known partners for that particular organization
working in an area of crisis, the best response may be no response as the
necessary information and coordination will be missing.
What can be done to really make a difference?
In years past, many well meaning organizations and individuals and even governments
would work to collect as much as they could, as fast as they could and then
ship everything as quickly as possible to a place as near the site of disaster
as they could. The absence of accurate, timely information often led to a
compounded effect upon an already tragic situation. Greater numbers of deaths
and injuries resulted from lack of sufficient aid or the timeliness of the
response. Fewer people of the global public were aware of the tragedy and
the needs of the afflicted and a smaller number of relief agencies were available
to provide help.
Today, however, with rapid access to the news about global disasters - in
a much shorter time frame of perhaps only days, hours or even minutes - organizations
are able to begin more quickly with the development of a planned response.
This, coupled with the greater number of charitable organizations ready to
offer humanitarian help, has removed many of the earlier obstacles to the
provision of timely, effective aid.
It is quite possible, and often the circumstance, that uncontrolled contributions
can quickly overwhelm delivery and distribution systems to the point where
critical, life-saving humanitarian aid is delayed by the congestion or even
blocked totally from ever getting to the areas and people in greatest need.
This is the reason that collaboration between those in the field and those
gathering the supplies is essential – to make sure that what is ultimately
sent is both requested and needed by those working in the field that are
familiar with the situation.
It’s safe to say that NO single organization or agency has the capacity and
resources to respond to the full spectrum of needs during most disasters.
Every active relief organization is involved in some level of collaboration.
Often the extent of collaboration is too limited and thus affects the impact
of response. While involving more partners in collaboration may be more complicated
to manage, the result of the greater number and types of resources can have
a significant impact on the well-being (health) of the suffering population.
Key players in collaboration efforts may include:
• People in need – the focus of our attention and the target of our response
• Local civic organizations and NGOs
• International NGOs – both at headquarters and in the field
• National/regional health workers and
officials – culturally sensitive, professionally skilled, critically located
• Governments – local, national, and donor countries
• International organizations
• Military – local and international (peace-making and –keeping; logistics assistance)
• Donors – individuals, churches, schools,
clubs, foundations, corporations, and many others
• Media – local and international
• Transportation Services – essential
in moving appropriate supplies to the places most needed
Operating in times of crisis is nearly always difficult and often dangerous.
Correct and accurate assessments by experienced/trained staff, focusing on
relief as a step to development, distributing appropriate donations, and
providing timely and productive coordination are all essential in providing
assistance to our brothers and sisters in need. The greatest challenge for
relief and development agencies today is to respond effectively and operate
within the requirements of each situation. Collaboration with control is
the key essential elements for a compassionate and meaningful assistance.
Today, worldwide, there are approximately:
21,793,300 Refugees
20-25 million Internally Displaced Persons
Brief Glossary
refugee – a person who "owing to a well-founded fear of
being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of
a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of
his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to
avail himself of the protection of that country..." (1951 Convention relating
to the Status of Refugees); refugee status is generally determined on an
individual level by the host country in consultation with UNHCR; refugees
have the right to “safe asylum”, which today includes physical safety, access
to medical care, schooling, and the right to work
IDP – internally displaced persons (IDPs) flee their homes
for the same reasons as refugees, but remain within their own country and
are thus subject to the laws of that state; IDPs do not have the same right
to “safe ayslum” as refugees because they have not crossed an international
border; similarly, they are not served by the specific mandate of UNHCR;
many policy makers and advocates around the world are trying to change the
UNHCR mandate to include IDPs, expanding the minimal assistance already given
to them
asylee – in the US, a person who applies for “refugee status” after arrival onto US soil; the asylum-granting process is a legal one
1951 Geneva Convention – The Convention and Protocol Relating
to the Status of Refugees; the international document signed by most UN member
states that governs the protection, care, and rights of refugees, as well
as the responsibilities of hosting/receiving nations
UNHCR – United Nations High Commission for Refugees; the
UN agency responsible for refugees; has two basic and closely related aims
– to protect refugees (including effective legal protection) and to seek
ways to help them restart their lives in a normal environment with shelter,
food, water, sanitation, and medical care; while UNHCR has a regular UN budget,
funds for specific humanitarian crises are raised from member states through
“Global Appeals”; the current High Commissioner is Mr. Ruud Lubbers, former
Dutch Prime Minister
complex emergency – refers generally to humanitarian crisis
situations – the forced migration of large populations because of war, environmental
catastrophe, or natural disaster) – that carry with them the added dimension
of political and/or ethnic struggles or conflict, and often involves areas
where the state is either weak, absent, or very weak
VolAg – voluntary agency; the shorthand given to the 10
national US agencies and their local affiliates who are authorized by the
Department of State to resettle refugees into the US (see ORR)
resettlement – Voluntary repatriation (to the home country)
is the preferred long-term solution for the majority of refugees; some refugees,
however, cannot repatriate and are unable to live permanently in their country
of asylum (integration). In those circumstances, resettlement in a third
country may be the only feasible option.
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